UDC petitions Sweden over Botswana�s arms race
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday June 9, 2017 18:00
In a strongly worded 10-page petition titled ‘Botswana’s arms race in the midst of poverty, massive unemployment and social inequality’, signed May 30, 2017, Boko says as the current regime is left with barely two years to the next general elections, it is committing the country to such spending which is both irresponsible and immoral. “With the next elections in 2019, and President Ian Khama in the last few months of his last term in office and due to retire on March 3l, 2018, even the mandate on which this unjustifiable military spending is pursued is highly weak and suspect,” Boko writes.
He pleads that no Swedish company should associate itself with or participate in such grievous impropriety. He also appeals to the conscience of the Swedish government and the sense of rectitude of the Swedish people. He then started giving the brief history about Botswana. He says it must be noted that because of its very humble beginning, ever since its independence Botswana has devoted its very meagre resources to the development of the country’s infrastructure. This was in order to increase the standard of living and social welfare of its citizens.
“Botswana’s first three Presidents, Seretse Khama (1955-1980) Quett Masire (1980-1998) and Festus Mogae (1998- 2008) although all determined to safeguard Botswana’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, always put diplomacy above military might. President Quett Masire in particular, ruled Botswana when its territorial integrity and national sovereignty were most at risk from minority ruled South Africa, Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe] and South West Africa [now Namibia].” When Botswana was in dispute with Namibia over a part of its territory, Masire did not resort to military solution, but took the matter to the International Court of Justice for adjudication.
“The thinking by these Presidents had always been to keep the military expenditure at the barest minimum and to devote as much financial resources as possible to the national development effort. Having given that background, we now turn to the subject of our petition, namely Botswana’s economically disastrous and totally unjustified arms race.”
He says since 2008, with the arrival of Ian Khama as Botswana’s President, the country’s ‘national security’ expenditure has been on the increase. Boko says according to the Stockholm International Peace Research (SIPRI), Botswana’s military expenditure jumped from US$ 292 million in 1998 to US$ 377 million in 2008 to US$ 436 million in 2015 (at constant 2014 prices and exchanges rates). According to the more recent National Development Plan 1 I (April 2017-Morch 2023), Botswana is planning to spend about 15% of its GDP on what is labelled ‘Territorial Integrity’.
It is estimated that about half of this will go towards the acquisition of the ultra-modern Swedish mode Gripen JAS 39 fighter aircraft, manufactured by SAAB. “According to reliable sources, Botswana intends to acquire between eight and 12 of these aircraft. The Gripen JAS 39 aircraft is an ultra-modern and very advanced fighter, even by European standards that military aviation experts say the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) neither needs nor can afford. Critics have questioned the wisdom of this intended military aircraft, especially fighter jets such as the Gripen, pointing to the BDF’s immediate needs in anti-poaching, border security patrols and peacekeeping operations on the continent.”
He continues: “While nobody is against BDF modernisation, various experts argue for a multi-role lighter aircraft rather than the Gripen even the T-50. But it is also important to note that not only the BDF in general, but its soldiers in particular, have much more relevant and even desperate needs. It is common cause that in many cases BDF men and women lack such basic supplies as new boots and socks, let alone decent accommodation, and live permanently in tents”.
Boko attacks Khama’s military spending. “It is also important to note that Ian Khama’s military spending spree is not even indicative of his ‘patriotic’ or even ‘altruistic’ credentials. It is all about his unbridled selfishness and policy of self-aggrandisement. The President’s family has deep roots in the weapons trade. President Ian Khama and his brothers have, through their military supplier company, Seleka Springs, dominated BDF tenders for decades, especially during the time when he was commander of the BDF. The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security once revealed, in an answer to a parliamentary question, that Seleka Springs, has acted as agents for several European companies for the supply of specialised military equipment, ammunition and spares.”
Some of the companies that engaged Seleka Springs were Avis Vickers from United Kingdom, Steyr-Daimler and FN Herstal from South Africa and Belgium respectively. Reports from various media in Botswana have also covered the full extent of the Seleka Springs dominance of BDF arms procurement programme. For example, in 2011, the BDF Air Wing announced that it had signed a $44.76 million deal to acquire five of the PC-7 Ml from the Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. The Khama brothers’ Seleka Springs were the agents of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd at the time, according to the Minister’s answer to Parliament.
The Khama brothers are also linked to the Thales Group, a major supplier of military equipment and systems. Thales Group is involved in aerospace, space defence, and security and transport systems. Alvis Vickers are the manufacturers of the Scorpion light tank and the Scorpion Armoured Personnel carrier. The BDF bought both types, 25 of the lighter version and six of the APS, while Steyr provided the SK-J05 Kurassier, and the SK-105 AK7 Recovery tank. The Khama affiliated FN Herstal was a major supplier of ammunitions to the BDF during the period under review. It was the manufacturer of the Browning-Hi Power, automatic pistol, the, FN FAL light automatic rifle, the FN-MAG machine gun, and the FN Minimi light machine gun, all of which are in regular use by the BDF. Steyr also provided the MG42 machine gun. A few years ago the Thales Group clinched the deal to instal military training software and equipment. “The Khama brothers, through their company Seleka Springs, also have a licence to distribute from a company called Tadiran Communications (now Elbit Systems). Tadiran is a pioneer of unmanned military aircraft for the Israeli army. The same year Minister [Shaw] Kgathi answered this parliamentary question, Pilatus had put on their official website the figure for the lender at around P290m, a higher figure than the P220m provided by the Minister in Parliament,” Boko explains.
He says they have reason to believe that the BDF is being pressurised to purchase the Gripen by Khama, because the President and his brothers have vested interests, and his motivation is not patriotic. As in other transactions alluded to, he alleges that the president’s family company stands to reap very handsomely in the form of commission from SAAB. It is the nation of Botswana in general, and the BDF in particular, that stands to lose. “As pointed out above, the Gripen JAS 39 aircraft is an ultra-modern and very advanced fighter. Experts point to very high maintenance costs, and point to South African Air Force imbroglio, where its Gripen fighters have been grounded due to prohibitive operating costs.”
The other alarming cost associated with the Gripen, apart from the cost of acquisition, Boko says, are the operational costs of a Gripen Fighter. He explains that the Swedish Air Force reports on hourly operating cost of US$7,500. “Needless to say, by the time the BDF and the nation are confronted with this issue of buying and operating a Gripen Fighter, President Khama and his brothers in Seleka Springs will have received their handsome commission and he will be enjoying his retirement, due to effect on the April 1, 2018, in guaranteed permanent luxury. From the foregoing account of the role that President Khama’s family company is playing in Botswana’s defence procurement, it is a small wonder that the Khama brothers have earned the dubious distinction of Botswana military millionaires.”
Declining economy
The UDC president asserts that against this background, it must be noted that Botswana’s economic situation now looks really gloomy. Whilst in 2009 foreign debt stood at 6.3% of the GDP, it has now increased to about 16% of GDP, fuelled partly by Khama military spending spree, he writes. He submits that official figures put unemployment at 19%, but the accelerating closure of mines and factories is likely to push the figure higher. “Youth unemployment now exceeds 40%, and a fifth of the country’s two million people live on less than $2 a day; across the country the ranks of young and embittered ore swelling.”
He says the impending revision of the SACU revenue-sharing formula will see Botswana’s share-its second largest revenue source after diamonds - decline significantly. Diamond sales - which contribute to a third of the country’s GDP - have lost their sparkle, declining by up to 30% in market value over two years, according to S&P report published in December 20l5. He also says since 2011 Khama has tried by all means to emasculate, marginalise and sideline a legally established Public Sector Bargaining Council (PSBC), throwing the country’s industrial relations, especially in the public sector, into disarray. Using the old and discredited tactics of divide and rule, he has abused his executive powers to award salary increment outside the bargaining council.
“We believe that Ian Khama is doing this in order to avoid the questions that might be raised at the PSBC concerning unjustified military spending in view of the claim that the government has no money to pay public sector employees decent wages and salaries.” The foregoing account of Botswana’s economic and fiscal position puts into stark relief the flawed spending priorities by the current government, specifically its military spending spree. Botswana is not in a position to engage in this misplaced defence spending.
On the way forward given the scenario stated above it is clear that Botswana as a country cannot afford this kind of military spending, he says. He notes that this is because Botswana faces serious challenges of unemployment, poverty and extremely poor social and physical infrastructure and poor services delivery. “Botswana is not facing any direct external threat and the cost of purchasing and maintaining a fleet of high tech and advanced jet fighters is prohibitive as evidenced by the experience of South African Defence Force. This will be an ill-advised spending in the face of more compelling national priorities.”
This purchase is also unjustified in the sense that it starts an arms race in the region, which is to the delight of the Khama family; will create a vicious circle of arms race, as some countries want to outperform others. He says still, Khama family will be the winner.
“Our plea as representatives of Botswana’s political parties and civil society is for the Swedish Parliament not to approve the sale of these fighter jets to the Government of the Republic of Botswana as it is not in the national interest to do so.
Our position is that military spending must be kept to the barest minimum, and Botswana’s meagre resources should be used to build better infrastructure, such as water and electricity supply, in order attract foreign investment, reduce poverty, unemployment, social inequality and reward labour productivity, especially in the public sector,” so says the Leader of Opposition in a parting shot.